The Indy Nose News
Volume 2 Issue 3 March 2010
Spring Open House will be April 24! Get all of your flowers for Spring and Summer! Check our blog and April newsletter for more details! |
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Seed Potatoes are in and they are going fast! Due to crop failures we have a limited supply and choice in variety this year. Crop failures have also affected other garden seeds. We have begun to receive our garden seeds and some quantities are limited. Come in today to make sure you get the seeds you want! |
New Website Features
We have added several new features to our website in the past month. The first is a Resources Page. This page contains valuable information on a wide variety of subjects from specific plant information and gardening practices to safety of chemicals and environmental responsibility. All of the information on the page is from the K-State Research and Extension office.
The second feature to look forward to is the Plant of the Week and Product of the Month. Each month we will be selecting a different product and plant to feature. You will be able to find interesting information about the selections on our website and in the store.
Check Plants for Scale
- by Twila Brooks
The dormant season is a good time to check woody plants for scale insect infestations. This time of year, decidous plants do not have leaves, so scale is easier to see. Scale insects are easily overlooked because they are small and don't move around for most of their lives. 
They resemble small shells that are oval or circular. Color varies from brown, to white, to tan. Plants such as fruit trees, bush fruits, lilac, crabapple, oak, ash, elm, maple and some evergreens are more susceptible to the insects. Plants are not harmed if only a few scale are present. But scale population can increase rapidly during the growing season. Heavy scale infestations can kill entire plants. If you see infestations take time to treat your plants with late winter dormant oil. We have several products for you to use in the store and encourage you to do some checking now before warmer temperatures encourage small infestations to spread. Good Growing!
Kevin's Korner
- By Kevin Redford
Wow, spring is on its way and there is so much to do to get ready for the season. Remember last month I mentioned that homeowners should put down pre-emergent on their yards. For those who did not read last month’s newsletter, pre-emergent is a weed control that prevents weeds before they emerge above the surface. Pre-emergent forms a blanket that does not allow them to grow. Some important things to keep in mind:
- Timing: March is always the best time if you are going to be successful. There is one exception: when tilling up a new landscape you will need to put it down when you bring the new weed seed to the surface.
- Good Coverage: Be sure you broadcast this product correctly so that you will truly reduce you weeds. Follow the instructions on the bag.
- Type of Turf: If you have a Fescue yard you will want to put down a pre-emergent with fertilizer. For Bermuda yards you will only want to put down the pre-emergent because too much fertilizer on Bermuda is not good.
- If you are sick of pulling weeds then you need to put down some Treflan in your landscape beds. This product is a pre-emergent that reduces weeds in your beds by 80-90%. The experience that I have had with this product is that it gives you great coverage for 2 to 3 months with only an occasional weed along the edges of your beds. You can apply it again in mid-summer if needed, but most of the time if a homeowner applies it at the right time (March) and has good coverage (use a hand spreader) they will most likely not have to apply it again.
- Do not use a cup to spread this product.
Please visit us at the nursery if you have any questions about pre-emergent.